Pressure-regulating valve mechanism.



No. 765,638. PATENTBD JULY 19, 1904.

' A, W. SGHRAMM.

PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION IILED FEB. 1, 1904.

N0 MODEL. '6 SHEETS-SHEB-T 1.

WITNESSES: [/vVEA/mk No. 765,638.- PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

Y A. W. SGHRAMM. PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE MECHANISM.

3 SHEETS-EHBBT 2.

APPLIOATIOK FILED FEB. 1, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

.No. 765,638. PATENTED JULY 19, 1904.

A. W. SGHRAMM.

PRESSURE REGULATING VALVE MECHANISM. Arrmonxou FILED FEB, 1. 1904.

no MODEL. I a sums-sum a.

lull!" ing, for'instance, an electric car from either UNITED STATESPatented July 19, 1904.

PATENT OEEicE.

PRESSURE-REGULATING VALVE IVIECHANISIVL SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 765,638, dated July 19, 1904.

Application filed February 1, 1904. Serial No. 191,572. (No model.) I

vented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure Regulating ValveMechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the artto Which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention applies to those braking systems in which the brake isapplied by the direct action of the pressure in the train-pipe leadingto the brake-cylinder.

The object of my invention is to provide a brake-valve operated by asingle handle, the position of which determines the pressure in thebrake-cylinder or train-pipe, the off or Zero position being such thatwhen the handle is placed thereat the brake can be operated in likemanner from another point.

It is Well known that pressure-regulating valves have been made whichcontrol the pressure in the brake-cylinder more or less perfectly; butall of them, as far as I am aware,

end, nor on a series of cars, such as an electhe car and its trailers.

My invention Wlll be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which 1 similar parts are indicated by similar lettersthroughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a central vertical section showing one form of the valvemechanism. Fig. 2 is a similar section showing another form.

Fig. 3 is a similar section showing a third valve-casing, which isconnected by a suitable outlet B to the brake-cylinder (not shown) andby a suitable outlet C to the atmosphere. The end of the valve-casing inall the figures is closed by a screw-plug D, which is provided with apassage D", connected to the supply-tank or source of fluid-pressure.The parts B, G, and D are screw-threaded at their outer ends to engagesuitable connections, (not shown,) while the part D is screw-threaded,as at d, to engage corresponding screwthreads on the interior of thevalve-casing. This screw-plug D not only closes the outer end of thevalve-casing, .but also holds in place the annular valve-seat E, onwhich is seated the valve which admits fluid-pressure from thesupply-tank to the brake-cylinder.

So far as it has already been described the construction of theinvention is substantially identical.

It will now be necessary to refer to the various figures separately.

Referring first to Fig. 1, F represents a valve-stem, carrying at itslower end the admission-valve F, which controls the admission offluid-pressure to the brake-cylinder. This valve is normally kept uponits seat by the fluid-pressure in the passage D". The opposite end ofthe valve-stem F carries the valve F which is shouldered, as at f and fto seat alternately on the valve-seat m of the annular diaphragm l\ ofthe hollow piston M and also upon the annular diaphragm M which isprovided with the valveseat of. This annular diaphragm M is preferablyscrewed into the hollow piston M for convenience in assembling theparts. 011 the upper face of the diaphragm M the spring 0 presses, whichspring has one end secured to the hollow piston M, as at 170, and theother end secured to the sliding nut P, as at p. This nut is heldagainst turning in the valve-casing by any suitable engagement, as by ayoke 9 engaging a rib a in the interior of the valve-casing. Engaging inthis nut P is a screw Q,

which is screw-threaded, as at q, and is provided with a flange whichbears against the upper wall of the valve-casing. Q is a washer which issecured in any convenient way, as by means of the pin 9, to the screw Q,and thus 'the handle is turned farther.

this washer Q and the flange q while allowing the screw Q to be revolvedholds the same against longitudinal movement. of the screw Q is squared,as at 7 to receive the socket R of the hand-lever R. It will be obviousthat the-head of this screw may be splined or otherwise held againstturning in the socket R of the handle R. To hold the handle in placeduring the normal operation of the valve, 1 preferably provide abayonetjoint engagement, such as is shown at w and (0. This prevents thehandle from being accidentally removed, but renders it possible toremove the same when desired.

The method of operation of the valve mechanism is as follows: Assumingthat an airbrake system is being used and the pressure in the passageDis maintained at, say, fifty pounds by the supply-tank and assumingthat the admission-valve F is on its seat and that the pressure in thepassage B and its connections is that of the atmosphere and that therelease-valve F is also on or nearly on its seat m, all as shown in Fig.1, and that the spring 0 is free, the parts will then be in the ordinaryrunning position. It now it is desired to apply the brakes moderatelyat, say, twentyfive pounds in the brake-cylinder, the handle R is turnedthrough a given angle, thus turning the screw Q, which beingscrew-threaded presses down the nut P,compressing the spring 0 andcausing this spring to force the piston M downward. This will force theadmissionvalve F off its seat, thus admitting air to the passage B andthence to the brake-cylinder. This air-pressure also actson the underside of the piston M and the release-valve F forcing them upward andcompressing the spring 0, and when the upward pressure of the air on thevalve and piston slightly overbalances the downward pressure of thespring O the valve and piston will move upward again, automaticallyclosing the admission-valve F. Should the pressure in the passage Bfall, due to a leaky brake-piston or other causes, the

upward pressure on the piston M and the re-' lease-valve F will lessen,allowing the spring 0 to force the piston down and to open theadmission-valve F again, and thus admitting more air from thesupply-tank to the passage B. If the pressure in the passage B rises,due to a leaky admission-valve F or other causes, this increasedpressure acts on the under side of the piston M. The spring 0 is thencompressed until the piston moves slightly away from the release-valveF, and the excess of pressure escapes by the releasevalve and to theatmosphere through the passage G. Thus it will be seen that the pressurein the passage B is controlled by the compression of the spring O andthat this compression may be varied at will by turning the handle R to agreater or less angle. Thus to increase the pressure in thebrake-cylinder To decrease The head Qf this pressure, the handle isturned backward somewhat, while to remove the pressure altogether thehandle is turned back to the initial or zero position. At each positionof the handle R the compression of the spring 0 antomatically adjuststhe pressure in the passage B. To release the brakes entirely, it isonly necessary to turn the handle R until the spring 0 is free, and allthe pressure above that of the atmosphere will be allowed to es capepast the valve F and through the passage C. WVhen this takes place, theadmission-valve F will reseat itself and the parts will be in theposition shown in Fig. 1. Now if it is desired to operate the brakesfrom another portion of the car or train the handle R is detached andapplied to a similar valve mechanism located at that portion of the caror train. It 'will be obvious that different handles may be applied todifferent valve mechanisms; but as a precautionary measure it is saferto remove the handle before leaving the valve mechanism, so thatmischievous or ignorant persons may not apply the brakes, eitherpurposely or by accident.

In order to turn the handle far enough backward to release the same,itbecomes necessary to turn it back beyond the zero-point,

thus allowing the air-pressure in the passage B to escape and releasingthe spring 0. Now if any pressure be admitted to the brake-cylinder fromanother station part of this pressure will flow through the passage Binto the space beneath the piston M, which piston will rise until thevalve-seat m engages the lock ing-valve face f shutting olf anyappreciable escape of fluid-pressure past the valve-faces f and f". Itwill be seen that the valve-face f, coacting with its seat on,constitutes, in effect, one valve, the release-valve, while thevalve-face f coacting with its seat 971 constitutes, in effect, anothervalve, which I have called the locking-valve, its purpose being to lockthe system as far as the local valve mechanism is concerned.

The operation of the form of device shown in Fig. 2 is substantially thesame as that described with reference to Fig. 1, except that thearrangement and disposition of the parts is varied slightly. In thesefigures H represents a valve-stem, which carries at one end theadmission-valve H, which valve is normally kept on its seat by the weakspring H This valve-stem H is attached to the hollow piston S by meansof the nut IL, which is above the spider S. The upper end of this pistonS is provided with a valve-seat s, on

which is seated the release-valve T, which is 7 carried by thevalve-stern T. This releaseof the valve-stem T, as by means of a pin t.

The screw-collarU is loose on the valve-stem T and is screwed into thevalve U. Thus it will be seen that this valve-stem T has a limited playwith regard to the screw-stem U. This screw-stem U is screw-threaded, asat a, to engage in corresponding female threadsin the valve-casing A.The socket R of the handle R fits on the head U of this screw U, and theparts a and 9" of the valve-casing and the handle, respectively, preventthe handle R from being accidentally disengaged from the screw-head,except when it is desired to remove the handle altogether, which is donein the same way as referred to with regard to i to the atmospherethroughthe passage C. If

now the spring 0 be putunder compression, as by turning the handle B, itwill force the piston S down, temporarily opening the admission-valve H.

fect of the spring O the piston S will move up again, closing theadmission-valve H, and i thus maintaining a pressure in the passage 8'dependent upon the amount of compression of the. spring O.

spring 0 will again open the admission-valve H, allowing additionalpressure to flow in from the passage D. to the passage B until theequilibrium isagain reestablished. If

the pressure in the passage B rises from any cause, as due to a leakyadmission-valve, the release-valve T will be temporarily lifted againstthe action of the spring 0, causing the excess of pressure to escape tothe atmosphere, v

To detach the handle R from the mechanism shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig.2, it is necessary to turn said handle so that its projecting piece 9'or r clears the corresponding piece a of the casing A. These parts areso arranged that the latter occurs only when the locking-valve(represented by the valve f in Fig. 1 and U, Fig. 2) has been broughtinto contact with its seat, (indicated by m or a respectively.) In thisposition air is prevented, no matter what its pressure may be, fromescaping from the passage B through the passage C to the atmosphere, andtherefore permits the operation of the brakes from another part of thesystem. It is evident that in order toarrive at the detaching position,where the handle can be removed, it is.

necessary to pass through the intermediate As soon as the pressure abovethe admission-valve is sufficient to shghtly more than counterbalancethe downward ef- If the pressure falls in the passage B from leaks orother cause, the.

or release position, where the release-valve will open, and thus beforethe handle is removed the brakes will be released. This is especiallyimportant if the car or train is standing on a grade, for it is thennecessary to apply the hand-brake at the time that the handle R isremoved. This feature naturally provides against the careless leaving ofthe car with the air-brakes only on, in which event the brakes mightbecome released, due to the fall of pressure in the supply-tank, and thecar would then be without any brakes on.

In the form of device shown in Fig. 3 the admission-valve K and therelease-valve K are'attached to the stem K and are normally kept upontheir seats by the spring K". The piston V has a valve-seato in theannular web V, which presses on the release-valve K W represents a stoutcoil-spring which is secured by the pin V to the piston V and by the pinX to the screw X, which is screwthreaded, as at m, to engage incorresponding female screw-threads in the casing A, which is providedwith an angular head X which engagesin the corresponding socket 7" inthe screw R which is preferably made integral with the handle B. Thisscrew isprovided with suitable threads 1 corresponding to the thus thispiston and the valve-seat a operate in the same way as the locking-valvealready described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.- In this form ofdevice the handle R cannot be removed until the screw X is screwed uphigh enough to cause the piston V to seat, as at a, and to close thepassage 0. The operation of the admission and release. valves ascontrolled by the compression of the spring W is precisely the same asthat which has already been described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

While this inventionv herein described is primarily designed for use.for braking purposes, it is evidently applicable to many purposes inwhich a definite but controllable pressure must be maintained in a pipesystem in which it is desired that the control may be located at any oneof a number of points;

It will be obvious that various modifications in the herein-describedapparatus might be made which could be used without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what: I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with a.handle, of an admission-valve, a spring-controlled releasevalve and alocking-valveall operated by said handle, substantially as described.

2. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with ahandle, of an admission-valve, a release-valve and a lockingvalve, apiston controlling the closing of said release and locking valves, and aspring controlling the movement of said piston, all operated by saidhandle, substantially as described.

3. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with acasing and ahandle mounted thereon, of an admissionwalve, arelease-valve and a locking-valve, a piston controlling the closing ofsaid release and locking valves, and a spring controlling the movementof said piston, all operated by said handle, with means for locking saidhandle to said casing so that it can only be removed when thelocking-valve is on its seat, substantially as described.

4. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the comblnation with acasing and a handle mounted thereon, of an admission-valve, arelease-valve, a locklng-valve and a stem, a piston controlling theclosing of said release I and locking valves and a spring controllingthe movement of said piston, all operated by said handle, with means forlocking said han-- dle to said casing, so that it can only be removedwhen the locking-valve is in its closed position, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a pressure-controlling valve mechan-' ism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluid-pressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission- T valvecontrolling the influx of fluid-pressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling: the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, 1

and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, with means operated by hand for controlling all of,

said valves, substantially as described.

' 6. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluid-pressure, to the mechanlsm to beoperated, and to' the atmosphere, respectively, of an admissionvalvecontrolling the influx of fluid-pressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling, the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, I and a locking-valve for cutting out the opera' atmosphere,and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, with a handle, and means controlled thereby for operating allof said valves from said handle when desired, substantially asdescribed. I

8. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and acasing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluidpressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valvecontrolling the influx of fluidpressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of thevalve mechanism aforesaid, a handle, a spring compressed by the movementof said handle, and means controlled by said handle and spring foroperat ing all of said valves by said handle when desired, substantiallyas described.

9. In a pressure-controlling valve mechan ism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluidpressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valvecontrolling the influx of fluidpressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of thevalve mechanism aforesaid, a handle, a'screw-stem, a spring compressedby the turning of said handle and stem, and means controlled by saidhandle and spring for operating all or any of said valves when desired,substantially as described.

10. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with ahandle, and a screw-threaded stem attached thereto, of anadmission-valve, a spring-controlled releasevalve and a locking-valveall operated by said stem, substantially as described.

1 1. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with ahandle and a screw-threaded stem attached thereto, of anadmission-valve, a release-valve and a lockingvalve, a pistoncontrolling the closing of said release and locking valves, and a springcontrolling the movement of said piston, all operated by .said stem,substantially as described.

12. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with acasing, a screwthreaded stem mounted in said casing, and a handlesecured thereto, of an admission-valve, a release-valve and alocking-valve, a piston controlling the closing of said release andlocking valves, and a spring controlling the movement of said piston,with means for locking said handle to said casing, so that it can onlybe removed when thelocking-valve is in its closed position,substantially as described.

13. Inapressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with acasing, a screwthreaded stem mounted in said casing, and a handleattached thereto, of an admission-valve, a release-valve and alocking-valve, a piston controlling the closing of said release andlocking valves and a spring controlling the movement of said piston, alloperated by said stem, with means for locking said handle to saidcasing, so that it can only be removed when the locking-valve is on itsseat, substantially as described.

14:. Ina pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with ahandle, of an admission-valve, a spring for holding said valve to itsseat, a spring-controlled release-valve, and a locking-valve, all ofsaid valves being operated by said handle, substantially as de scribed.

15. In a pressure-controlling-valve mechanism, the combination with ahandle, of an admission-valve, a spring for holding said admission-valveto its seat, a release-valve and a locking-valve, a piston controllingthe closing of said release and locking valves, and a spring controllingthe movement of said piston, 'all of said valves and also said pistonbeing operated by said handle, substantially as described.

16. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with acasing, and a handle mounted thereon, of an admission-valve, a springfor holding said admission-valve to its seat, a release-valve and alocking-valve, a piston controlling the closing of said release andlocking valves, and a spring controlling the movement of said piston,with means for locking said handle to said casing, so that itsubstantially as described.

18. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided'with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluidpressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valvecontrolling the influx of fluidpressure from said source, a springnormally holding said admission-valve to its seat, a release-valvecontrolling the escape of fluidpressure to the atmosphere, and alockingvalve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, with means operated by hand for controlling all of saidvalves, substantially as described.

'19. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluid-pressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admissionvalvecontrolling the influx of fluid-pressure from said source, a springnormally holding said admission-valve to its seat, a release-valvecontrolling the escape of fluid-pressure to the atmosphere, and alocking-valve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, with a handle and stem for operating all of said valves whendesired, substantially as described.

20. In apressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluid-pressure, to the mechanism to beoperated and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admissionvalvecontrolling the influx of fluid-pressure from said source, a springnormally holding said admission-valve to its seat, arelease-valvecontrolling the escape of fluid-pressure to the atmosphere, and alocking-valve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, with a handle, and means controlled thereby for operating allof said valves from said handle when desired, substantially asdescribed.

21. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluid-pressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admissionvalvecontrolling the influx of fluid-pressure from said source, a springnormally holding said admission-valve to its seat, a release-valvecontrolling the escape offluid-pressure to the atmosphere, and alocking-valve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, a handle, a spring compressed by the turning of saidhandle,and means controlled by said handle and spring for operating allof said valves by said handle when desired, substantially as described.

22. In a pressure-controlling valve mechan ism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluid-pressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admissionvalvecontrolling the influx of fluid-pressure from said source, a springnormally holding said admission-valve to its seat, arel'ease-valvecontrolling the escape of fiLliCl-PFGSSLHQ to the atmosphere, and alocking-valve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, a handle, a screw-stem, a spring compressed by the turning ofsaid handle and IIO stem, and means controlled by said handle and springfor operating all or any of said valves when desired substantially asdescribed. I 23. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, thecombination with a source of fluidpressure, and a casing providedwithseparate passages connected to said source of fluidpressure, to themechanism to be operated,

and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valve controllingthe influx of fluidpressure from said source, a release-valvecontrolling the escape of fluid-pressure to the atmosphere, and alocking-valve for cutting out the operation of the valve mechanismaforesaid, a piston mounted in said casing and controlling the closingof said release-valve and said locking-valve, with means operated byhand for controlling said piston and all of said valves, substantiallyas described.

24. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluidpressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valvecontrolling the influx of fluidpressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of thevalve mechanism aforesaid, a piston mounted in said casing andcontrolling the closing of said release-valve and said locking-"alve,with a handle and stem for operating said piston and all of said valveswhen desired, substantially as described.

25. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluidpressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valvecontrolling the influx of fluidpressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of thevalve mechanism aforesaid, a piston mounted in said casing andcontrolling the closing of said release-valve and said locking-valve,with a handle, and means controlled thereby for operating said pistonand all of said valves from said handle when desired, substantially asdescribed.

26: In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination with asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluidpressure, to the mechanismto beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valvecontrolling the influx of fluidpressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of thevalve mechanism aforesaid, a piston mounted in said casing andcontrolling the closing of said release-valve and said locking-valve, ahandle, a spring compressed by the turning of said handle, and meanscontrolled by said handle and spring for operating said piston and allof said valves by said handle when desired, substantially as described.

27. In a pressure-controlling valve mechanism, the combination With asource of fluidpressure, and a casing provided with separate passagesconnected to said source of fluidpressure, to the mechanism to beoperated, and to the atmosphere, respectively, of an admission-valvecontrolling the influx of fluidpressure from said source, arelease-valve controlling the escape of fluid-pressure to theatmosphere, and a locking-valve for cutting out the operation of thevalve mechanism aforesaid, a piston mounted in said casing andcontrolling the closing of said release-valve and said locking-valve, ahandle, a screw-stem, a spring compressed by the turning of said handleand stem, and means controlled by said handle and spring for operatingsaid piston and all or any of said valves when desired, subtantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPH WILLIAM SCHRAMM.

Vitnesses:

R. S. REED, IDA M. BROADBENT.

